Sunday A&E: Behind the Scene

Dec. 27, 2012

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Businesses step up to support symphony

Three of Des Moines’ biggest employers recently kicked in $1.15 million toward the $7.5 million the Des Moines Symphony hopes to raise for its 75th anniversary this year. The money from DuPont Pioneer, Principal Financial Group and the Meredith Corp. Foundation will help pay for a number of projects, including a new acoustical shell for the orchestra’s home at the Civic Center.

That support is especially welcome considering that many orchestras nationwide are struggling. The Minnesota Orchestra announced earlier this month that it had canceled or rescheduled all of its concerts through Feb. 10 while the musicians and administration hammer out a new contract. The troubles arose from a $6 million deficit posted for fiscal 2012, the largest in the group’s history.

Blizzard blows concert to January

If you missed pianist Jim Brickman’s Dec. 20 concert at Stephens Auditorium in Ames, you’re in luck: Nobody else saw it either. The previous night’s blizzard prompted organizers to postpone the event until Jan. 31. Earlier tickets will be honored, and new ones are still up for grabs, at www.center.iastate.edu.

Iowans chosen for D.M. Arts Festival

Ten Iowans are among the 185 artists recently chosen to exhibit work at next summer’s Des Moines Arts Festival, set for June 28-30 downtown. They are: Mike Bose, Gene Brown, Roy Cacek, Linda Lewis, James Ochs, James Petran, Brad and Sundie Ruppert, Chris Vance and Judith Whipple.

A five-member jury chose the 185 winners, from 38 states and Canada, from 1,104 applicants. An additional 20 Iowans, mostly students or recent graduates, were invited to display work in the Emerging Iowa Artists program.

Countin' down to 'Downton'

Fans of the spit-polished PBS series “Downton Abbey” have already circled Jan. 6 on their calendars: That’s when the third season premieres. In the meantime, they can take a sneak peak of the first episode’s first 10 minutes, which was posted Wednesday on the show’s Facebook page. The clip shows the Crawley family at home, preparing for the long-awaited wedding of Matthew Crawley and Lady You-Know-Who.

Read arts reporter Michael Morain’s blog at DesMoinesRegister.com/morain, and see all arts and theater coverage at DesMoinesRegister.com/OnStageIowa.